Thursday, April 30, 2015

Krämerbrücke Bridge

The Krämerbrücke bridge (Merchant's Bridge) in the Thuringian city of Erfurt in Germany which is covered with inhabited, half timbered buildings on both sides, Which make it the longest inhabited bridge in the world. The unique bridge in Europe, The footbridge streach on Breitstrom, a branch of Gera River, connecting Benediktsplatz and Wenigemarkt. It was Originally constructed from wood in 1117 but due to annihilation by repeated six times fires in ninety years (1175-1265), it was renovate in 1293 with a stone bridge both bridgeheads stone churches, western end St. Benedicti and at the eastern end St. Aegidien. This 79 meter long arch bridge has been erected in lime and sandstone work and since then consists of six visible barrel vaults.

In 1472 after a city fire destroyed nearly half of the city and the stands on the bridge, it was reconstructed in its current form with then 62 half-timbered buildings, each with about three floors. The deepness of the buildings was extended by the wooden “Sprengwerke” next to the arch vaults. The width of the bridge finished in 1486 since then amounts to 26 m with a space of 5.5 m between the two rows of houses. In 18th century the number of houses on the bridge had been reduced to 38, due to unification and reconstruction caused by fires. The church St. Benedicti was demolished in 1810 in order to build a new house. In 1895 its tower had to give place to the newly built “Rathausbrücke” (town hall bridge), which crosses the river parallel.

Currently 32 houses on Krämer Bridge are mostly Artisans and remaining houses are municipal property. The doors at ground level are mostly antique and craft shops, while the upper levels of the building are still private residences. The houses of the bridge are the jewel of the city, which celebrates its rise to fame every year with a focus on small community called Krämerbrückenfest festival.